Chapter 23
You can learn what you don’t know, one thing at a time. With that thought, I nodded.
“Then I’ll go pick it up again. With a dried branch.”
“I’ll go with you.”
As I stepped toward the forest, Dante followed right behind me.
Biting my lower lip, I wondered if he didn’t trust me. Dante, however, walked a step ahead and said,
“There are many dangers in the forest. Even if you bring just one branch like before, it won’t do much.”
“I-Is that so?”
Of course, there were big bears and tigers in the forest.
‘And since it’s my first time… there’s no shame in getting some help.’
Taking a deep breath, I smiled brightly at Dante.
“Then, I’ll be counting on you.”
Dante nodded.
Just as Dante had said, the forest off the carriage path was so thick that it was difficult even to walk properly. If Dante, walking a step ahead, hadn’t cleared the weeds and branches in the way, my skirt would’ve gotten caught on a branch, and I’d probably still be untangling it when the sun set.
‘And it’s much darker too.’
I looked up at the towering trees. Their spikes blocked the sunlight, making the interior of the forest pitch dark.
‘So this is what a forest looks like… There are trees this huge.’
The County of Cline wasn’t without forests, but the trees here were different. They stretched skyward like spikes, standing densely together.
‘I wouldn’t even notice if something suddenly popped out.’
I had always thought only ghosts jumped out of the darkness, and the forest’s gloom made me cling tightly to Dante’s back.
But my tension slowly dulled, as nothing appeared for quite a while.
‘Apparently wild animals don’t actively seek people out.’
Would it really be okay to go alone? Before I could finish thinking that, the brush beside me rustled violently. Startled, I screamed and clutched Dante’s sleeve.
“Eek!”
“…….”
Dante didn’t look particularly surprised; he gripped his sword in its scabbard with his right hand. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I stared at the bush.
Peeking out was a rabbit, its fur soft and white and its eyes red.
Dante sighed lightly and lifted his chin slightly.
“A rabbit. Haven’t seen one before?”
“Ah, i-is that a rabbit? I have gloves made from rabbit fur too.”
I had only seen them in illustrations before; this was my first time seeing a live one. Trembling, I poured out questions.
“Surely it wouldn’t attack people, right? Even if it looks cute, it doesn’t carry venom or have a vicious temperament?”
“Hmm.”
Dante reached out and removed my hand from his coat. Startled, I tried to grab it again, but my hand grasped only air.
In an instant, he moved with immense speed and, without effort, grabbed the rabbit by its long ears and lifted it.
The rabbit’s eyes went wide. It looked utterly incredulous, and its ears must’ve hurt terribly. Pale, I asked,
“Is it okay to hold it by the ears like that?”
“Rabbits are normally held by the ears.”
“But still! Its ears are red! It must hurt.”
Dante tilted his head lightly and exhaled through his nose, then suddenly offered the rabbit to me.
“Then you hold it.”
“Huh? It won’t bite? Or… poison?”
“It could bite, but it won’t now. No poison either.”
Trepidation still clung to me, but I extended my arms. I trusted Dante’s words.
He carefully placed the rabbit in my arms. I was surprised by its weight, and then by its warm body and soft fur.
“Eek!”
Before I could fully enjoy its fluffiness, the rabbit jumped and darted away. It was so agile that it escaped into the forest without a scratch.
Even after it disappeared, my arms still felt as if the little creature was there. I sighed, touching my hands.
“Goodness… To think these soft little creatures are skinned to make things. I don’t think I could ever use rabbit fur again.”
“Is that so?”
Dante tilted his head, seemingly unmoved.
“You have a kind heart.”
“R-Really? I thought I was fairly normal.”
How could anyone skin something so cute and fluffy?
“Other ladies haven’t actually seen a rabbit either, so they can wear things made of rabbit fur. But if they knew how cute they really are, they wouldn’t use them. It’s not just me.”
When I repeated that I wasn’t especially kind, Dante frowned slightly. Then, rarely speaking at length, he pursed his lips and said:
“If she were ordinary, she wouldn’t leave her fiancé alone. In the capital, there are incidents every month of people being stabbed to death by unfaithful partners.”
“Gasp.”
Horrified by such violent events occurring monthly, I whispered,
“T-The capital sounds terrifying.”
Dante’s thick eyebrows shot up slightly.
“It’s not.”
“But you said someone gets stabbed to death by a fiancé every month. Then there must be other reasons people get stabbed to death too, right?”
“That’s true.”
“….”
Could I really do well in such a dangerous place?
‘Living alone, I might get caught up in crimes or something.’
It was my first time living alone without knowing anyone, and now the capital sounded even more threatening.
“Calm yourself.”
Seeing me trembling like a rabbit, Dante cleared his throat awkwardly, then said seriously,
“You won’t be scared if you stay by my side.”
I blinked, wide-eyed. Could he mean the Duke would protect me?
Blinking in surprise, a grumble escaped my pocket.
「That guy… sneaky little trickster.」
“Pepe!”
Startled, I grabbed Pepe tightly. Dante frowned at me.
“What was that sound just now…?”
“Ah, t-there are a lot of branches here.”
I laughed awkwardly, bending to distract him. Grabbing a branch, I yelped.
“Ouch!”
“It’s dangerous. Untrimmed branches have many thorns.”
“Thorns?”
“Wait a moment.”
Dante’s large hand covered mine. I felt the heat and firmness of his hand.
‘Ugh.’
It was the first time a man other than Emil had held my hand. I wanted to pull away quickly, but he was inspecting my palm seriously.
‘It’s embarrassing that I’m so conscious about this.’
Dante didn’t seem to mind at all. He removed the tiny thorn from my hand.
“This is what I mean.”
He then carried the branches I had picked. I followed him closely and asked,
“Duke, is it okay for you to handle these with your bare hands?”
“As you can see, my palms are tough.”
“Really… needles wouldn’t even pierce them.”
“Needles would.”
Dante laughed lightly, as if my surprise amused him. Since it was just the two of us, his voice felt comfortable.
I carefully picked up a few branches, making sure not to get pricked. Then, a sense of helplessness swept over me. I muttered quietly,
“I really didn’t know anything.”
Dante raised his eyebrows.
“You didn’t have the chance, not because you didn’t want to learn.”
“Th-That’s true…”
It was true I hadn’t had the chance, but could I use that as an excuse? Hesitant, I remained silent. Dante met my eyes seriously.
“It’s safe by my side. Ask, and I’ll answer honestly. So stay close.”
“…Yes.”
Even without any hidden meaning, his words sounded strangely sweet. I shook my blushing face and returned to picking up branches diligently.
‘If I don’t gather them quickly, today’s meal is lost. Focus on this alone.’
Even with my clumsy hands, the pile grew quickly. While I was engrossed, Dante, who had gathered far more than I had, asked from behind,
“By the way, what were you doing by the carriage earlier?”
